Geneseo will be well represented at the 2012 Hershey Track and Field State Meet July 7 in Joliet.

The athletes will compete against other qualifiers in the state at Joliet Memorial Stadium in Joliet. The opening ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by field events at 11 a.m. and the track events at 11:30 a.m.

“It is kind of neat to see,” said Geneseo Park District running program instructor Kelley Timmerman. “It is a way to get them a little interested, a way to see where they stand and what they like. It gives them an opportunity to compete against children who are not in their school.”

Advancing to the state meet in the girls 9-to 10-year-old division were: Abigail Barickman in the standing long jump, 200-meter dash, 400-m dash and the 4x100-m relay; Madeline Barickman in the softball throw, 50-m dash and the 4x100-m relay; Megan Soria in the 4x100-m relay and Melani Hodge in the 50-m dash.

“I am excited and I am looking forward to the relay, said Abigail Barickman. “I am not nervous.”

“I am a little nervous, but I am excited,” said Madeline Barickman. “I am looking forward to the 50-m dash.”

Also qualifying were Elizabeth Manthe in the standing long jump, 100-m dash and 400-m dash and Esther Brown in the softball throw, 100-m dash, 200-m dash and the 4x100-m relay.

Qualifying in the boys 9-to 10-year-old division were: Spencer Lindstrom in the 400-m dash and Eli Allen in the softball throw.

“This is my first time going and I am excited,” said Spencer Lindstrom. “I am looking forward to competing at state, but I am a little nervous.”

“I am excited because this is something I wanted to do,” said Eli Allen. “I am a little nervous because it is my first time. I am just hoping to do my best.”

The girls ages 11-to-12 state qualifiers include: Tori Verbeck in the softball throw, 100-m dash, 200-m dash and the 4x100-m relay; Julia Poel in the 4x100-m relay; Hannah Soria in the standing long jump, 200-m dash, 400-m dash and the 4x100-m relay and Adia Raya in the standing long jump, 400-m dash and the 4x100-m relay.

“I am excited and nervous,” said Adia Raya. “My favorite event is the standing long jump.”

“I am really excited, but nervous about the start of the relay because we just changed positions,” said Hannah?Soria. “I am looking forward to the 400-m dash.”

“I am really excited, but really nervous because this is my first time going and I don’t know what it is going to be like,” said Tori Verbeck. “I am looking forward to the 100-m dash.”

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“I am looking forward to being with my friends,” said Julia Poel. “I am a little nervous, but not that much. I am more excited.”

Advancing in the boys 11-to 12-year-old division was Nate Yoder in the standing long jump, 100-m dash and 800-m run.

“Yes, I am excited and not nervous,”?said Nate Yoder. “I am looking forward to the standing long jump and I am hoping to win.”

“I think they are all excited, but will be nervous because there will be more children and it is a little more intense,” said Timmerman. “I hope most of them will see a little improvement in their times. I just told them this is a learning experience and hopefully it will be a positive one.”

Additional state qualifiers include: Clay DeBaillie in the standing long jump, 50-m dash and 100-m dash; Cal DeBaillie in the standing long jump, in the 50-m dash and the 100-m dash; PJ Moser in the softball throw; Tannen Rink in the 200-m dash; Nathan?VanDeWoestyne in the 200-m dash and Thomas Robinson in the 400-m dash.

Thackery Newton qualified in the standing long jump, softball throw and 800-m run and Kaden?Rink qualified in the softball throw, 100-m dash and 400-m dash.

“I would like to see them give their best effort and try not to get too nervous,” said Timmerman. “They did a lot to get there and worked hard to get there.”

The Hershey Track and Field Meet, which is in its 35th year, is sponsored by The Hershey Co. This is the first time anyone from Geneseo has competed in the event.

State meet winners do not automatically qualify for the National Finals in Hershey, Pa. Hershey will select a minimum of five representatives from the Illinois pool of state winners. If an athlete is selected for the National Finals, the finals will be held Aug. 2 to 5 in Hershey.